Spring shackle



July 10, 19212;. 1,676,489

H. D. GEYER SPRING SHACKLE Filed Oct. 16, 1926 Patented July 19, 13 28. I

tlttl'li, fiTATES HARVEY D. GEYER, GE DAYTON, OHIO} ASSTGNQR 'TO THE INLAND MANUFACTURING I COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A COBPGBATION OF DELAWARE.

SPRING SHAGKLE.

Application filed October 16, 1926. SerialfNo. 142,118.

This invention relates to coupling mem- 17 and the cord casing 18 are cured toonly 'bers, especiall such as are used as spring such degree as to leave them quite flexible. shackles on vehicles. The central portion of unit is preferably An object of this invention is to provide provided with a rubberized cord fabric. cas- 5 an improved form of coupling member coning wrapped transversely around the out- .60

taming flexible rubber wherein all 'moveside of the casinglS to protect the soft rubment is taken by the internal distortion of I ber block 17 and to prevent lateralbulging the rubber, thereby avoiding the necessity thereof in use. This entire unit 15 is vulof lubrication and other disadvantages of canized'in a mold substantially to the shape I ordinary metal shackles. shown in the drawings. (o5

Another object is to provide an extremely After vulcanization, the upper portion of simple'form of rubber spring shackle having unit 15 is pressed laterally into the open side the advantages of small cost of manufacof the pressed metal housing 80 which is corture and assembling in place upon the parts respondingly shaped, as clearly shown in Fi g.

5 connected thereby, efiiciency of operation, 1, to fit quite snugly about said upper por- '10 long life, and neatness of appearance. tion. A bolt hole 31 through the relatively Further objects and advantages of the hard end 20 .of unit 15 may be eithermolded present invention will be apparent from the therein by means of a core or drilled therein following description, reference being had after vulcanization, as desired. Now to ses to-the accompanying drawings, wherein a cure the upper housed end ofunit 15 to the preferred form of embodiment Of the presentside channel 13, the open side 0f the housing invention is clearly shown. 30 is slipped laterally into the correspond! In the drawings: ingly shaped recess 32 provided therefor in Fig. 1 illustrates a shackle built accordthe 'channel- 13 by the suitable shaping of ing to this invention mounted'on the rear the-flanges of-said channel 13. The bolt end of the rear spring of an automobile '83 is next inserted and nut 34: tightened to chassis. The two end portions of the shackle firmly clamp the end 20 of the molded unitare shown in vertical. section on thecenter 15 between the housing 30 and the channel line thereof while the central portion is- 18 (see Fig. 2).

:20 shown in elevation. V 'Thelower end of unit 15 is provided with Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1; a pressed metal housing 40 which fitsv snugly Fi 3 i a. section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. around-the relatively hard end 21 thereof Fi 4 i a ction on line 44t of Fig. 1. and is 'firmly clamped down upon the top Similar reference characters refer to simofthe long leaf 11 by the U-b 1t 4.1, the

ilar parts throughout the several views. cross clip .42,and nuts 43. The U-bolt 41 9O Numeral 1O designates the leaf spring in is used instead of a bolt extending through its entirety and 11 is the projecting end of a hole in leaf 11 .toavoid piercing the leaf the long leaf thereof. 13 is the side channel 11 and thereby weak n th ame. The rail of the chassis frame, only a Sma l P slightly lip-turned end 12 of leaf 11 assists 49 tion thereofbeing shown. the U-boltel in securing the unit 15 to the The molded unit, indicated as a whole by leaf 11, as will be clear to those skilled in 15, comprises a substantially C-shaped curved th art, metal insert 16 completely surrounded by In operation, when the end of spring 10 the flexible rubber block 17, and the rubmoves longitudinally relative to the side rail 4 berized fabric casing 18 which extends 13,the metal insert 16 swings angularly by its around the periphery of the entire molded c rved ends 50 pivoting within the flexible unit 15. Preferably casing 18 is composed rubber block 17 by internal distortion of the of rubberized cord fabric with the cords 19 rubber. Ofcourse'th t al ti f it th reo eX gin e peripheral direc- 15 :which is covered by the fabric casing 25 tion around the unit 15, as has been illusalso swings with the C-shaped metal insert trated in the drawing. The ends 20 and 21 16, the flexing of the cord fabric casing 18 of the molded unit 15 are builtup from rubat the portions 51 and 52 permitting such berized fabric and cured in the mold to a swinging. The soft rubber block 17 is cont hardness which renders them quite hard and. 'pletely encased at its two ends, where its m1; at the same time the rubber hi-act greatest internal distortion takes place, by 11 the metal housings 30 and 4:0 respectively. It is also completely encased at its central portion by the transverse fabric casing 25. The lateral edges of block 17 at the portions 51 and 52 are however left unencased in order that the unit 15 may be easily flexed at these portions without any buckling or excessive strain upon the fa-br1c casing.

. Preferably holes 55 are provided in the soft rubber block 17 at the ends of the C- 'shaped insert 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, in order to permit eas1er pivoting of the curved ends 50 within the soft rubber as described above.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood.

the vehicle spring'and the other end thereof rigidly fixed to the frame member.

2. In combination, an extension shackle connecting two relatively movable members, said shackle comprising a molded rubber unit having the opposite ends thereof fixed respectively to said movable members, said molded unit having al'relatively rigid metal insert therein extending between points adjacent the opposite ends of said molded unit and arranged to transmit the load imposed upon said molded unit, and a rubberized fabric casing extending transversely aboutthe central portion of said molded unit.

v 3. In an extension shackle'connecting two relatively movable members, a molde'drubber unit having the opposite ends thereof fixed to said movable members, s'aidinolded unit having a rubberized fabric casing molded in place about the central portion of said molded unit. p r

l. In an extension-shackle connecting two relatively movable members, a molded rubber unithaving the opposite ends thereof fixed to said movable members, said molded unit having a metal insert extending longitudinally of said unit to points adjacent the two ends thereof, said insert having laterally extending end portions whereby the bearing area of the ends of said insert is increased.

5. In combination with a frame member and a supporting leaf spring, an extension shackle comprising: a molded rubber unit havin one end thereof lying upon and fixed in place upon said leaf spring, and having the opposite end thereof conforming in shape to and rigidly clamped upon said frame member. 7

6. In combination with a frame member and a supporting leaf spring,.an extension shackle comprising: a molded rubber unit having one end thereof lying upon and'fixed in place upon said leaf spring, and having the opposite end thereof conforming in shape to and rigidly clamped upon said frame member, and an isolated metal insert extending longitudinally within said' molded unit to transmit the load through the central portion of said unit. r 7

7. In combination with a member and a supporting spring, an extension shackle comprising: a molded rubber unit having a substantially C shaped metal insert molded therein. I

8. In combination with a member and a supporting spring, an extension shackle comprising: a molded rubber unit having a substantially E-shaped metal insert molded therein, and a molded'rubberized fabric casing therefor. V

9. In combination with a member an'd a supportng spring, an, extension shackle comprising: a molded rubber unit having a subs an'tially C-shaped metal insert molded therein, a flexible rubbermember enclosing said metal insert'and a rubberized fabric casing enclosing said flexible rubber member,

. 10. In'combination with a member and a supporting spring, an extension shackle co1nprising: a molded rubberu nit having a substantially; C-shaped 'metal insert molde'; therein, a flexible rubber member enclos- 111g said metal insert and a rubberized fabric casing enclosing said flexible rubber member, and having semi-rigid end portions whereby the ends of said molded unit may be fixed in place upon said spring and first mentioned member.

11. In combination with a member and a spring, a shackle tlierebetween including a moldedirubber unit having its opposite ends fixed respectively to said member and spring, said member having an open-sided pocket to receive a correspondinglyshapedend of said molded unit, whereby said molded unit is more securely fixed to said member.

' In testimony whereof Ihereto aflix my signature.

HARVEY D. GEYER. 

